Wire-fence clamp



' 1. B. woonsoN.

WIRE FENCE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY29,1.9I9.

1,341,698, Patented June 1, 1920.

T GFFICE.

JOHN' B. WOODSON, OIEy FAYETTE, MISSOURI.

WIRE-FENCE CLAMP.

` Latines.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application mea May 29, 1919. semi no. 300,760.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. WooDsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fayette, in the county of Howard and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wire-Fence Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has as its object the provision of an appliance for stretching the runner or line wires' of a fence preparatory to securing the latter to a post.

The invention relates more particularly to a clamp for such wires and has as Iits object the provision of a clamp which will securely and positively grip the wires and which is adaptable to wire fences of various heights without in any way changing the construction of the clamp.

The above and other objects of my invention, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are accomplished by providing a structure which comprises, broadly, a central guide post having a plurality of sleeves thereon, which sleeves are adapted to be pressed together in gripping relation by a wrench located upon the threaded stud at one end of the post.

In order that the device may be readily used upon fences of various heights and a straight pull exerted at all times upon the wires, I secure the attachment for the tensioning means upon the gripping sleeves so that they may be adjusted along the guide post to a height which will insure a straight pull upon the wires of the fence.

In the accompanying. drawings, showing one embodiment of my invention,

Figure 1 is a perspective;

Fig. 2 a vertical section;

Fig. 3 a detail of one of the gripping sleeves having the tensioning means attachment thereon, and

Fig. 4 a plan view of the sleeve shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in more detail, it should be understood that I have shown therein but one embodiment of my invention and that numerous changes in the construction shown could readily be made within the scope of my invention as delined by the claims attached hereto. In these drawings there is shown a central guide post 1 having an enlarged lower eX- tremity 2 upon which rest a plurality of sleeves 3 adapted tov fit upon the post in abutting relation whereby they may grip the wires of a fence in the manner indicated in Fig. 1. Y

It should be observed that the topmost sleeve 4: is in the form of a cap and has an opening 5 in its top, through which opening passes a threaded stud 6 xedly secured to the hollow post 1 by any suitable means.

Fitted upon the stud is a wrench 7 providedat one extremity with an vopening interiorly threaded whereby the wrench may be placed upon the stud 6 in a manner apparent from the drawings, pressing together to mutual gripping relation the sleeves 3.

lIhe wires of the fence pass at one side of the guide post between the gripping sleeves, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and in order to retain the wires between the sleeves the latter are provided with lugs 8 which project above each of the sleeves and overlap the adjoining sleeve, thus preventing the wires from slipping from their gripped position.

From the above description it should be clear that the wires are first passed between the sleeves and then the wrench 7 is placed upon the stud 6 and screwed on the same until the sleeves 8 securely grip the wires passing between them. Y In order that a tensioning means may be attached to the clamp and the wires stretched, there are secured to the sleeves, bails 9 and although the latter may be secured to the sleevesin any desired manner, in the present instance they are shown as attached thereto by means of eyes 10, therjuX- taposed ends 11 of the bails passing therethrough. It should be clear that to these bails may be secured any form of tensioning or pulling means that it may be desirable or convenient to use.

Aside from the general novel construction of my clamp, there are two features upon which I would lay particular emphasis and wherein my clamp is highly efficient. First, it should be observed that the means-for exerting the pressure upon the sleeves to move them into gripping relation is located directly above the wires, or in other words, in the same plane in which the fence wires are gripped. It will be noted that the stud 6 is not placed in the center of the guide post but adjacent one side of the latter and that the wrench 7 pressing upon the cap sleeve l exerts its pressure in the same Vvertical plane in which the wires are gripped. By this construction the wires are all firmly substantially any height.

y these wires and in this instance the bails 9 are suitably positioned along the post so that a straight pull may be exerted upon each of the wires of the fence. Should it be desired to stretch the wires of a fence which is only three wires in height, it will be clear that the position of the bails shown in Fig. l is not suitable for such an 0peration, for should a pull be exerted upon a device of this height when stretching only three wires, instead of a rectilinear pull upon the wires there would be a tendency for the device to turn, exerting an angular pull upon the wires. In such an instance the sleeves having the bails thereon will be suitably positioned along the guide post, this being done by removing the wrench and cap sleeve and as many of the gripping sleeves as is necessary, it being understood that after the gripping sleeves with the bails thereon have been properly positioned the remaining sleeves are placed upon the guide post and the wrench thereafter attached to its stud.

It should be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular means shown may be adjustd along the device to the position necessary for the exertion of a proper pull upon the Wires of the device.

Vhat I claim is:

l. In a fence clamp, a post, slidable sleeves on said post, means for pressing together said sleeves to grip the line wires of a fence, and means on the clamp adjustable longitudinally of said post for attaching a tensioning means to the clamp.

2. Ina fence clamp, a post, sleeves on said post and 'adjustable longitudinally thereof, means for pressing together said sleeves to grip the line wires of a fence, and means located on said sleeves for attaching a tensioning member to the clamp.

3. In a fence clamp, a guide post, abutting gripping sleeves on and encircling said post, and means for moving said sleeves into gripping relation'.

4. In a fence clamp, a guide post, abutting gripping sleeves on said post between which fence wires may pass, and means for moving said sleeves into mutual gripping relation, said means being located in the same plane in which the wires are clamped whereby direct pressure may be exerted on the wires.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN B. WOODSON. 

